Construction of buildings.



No. 723,175. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1903.

' J. G. MBYERS.

CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 723,175. PATENTED MAR. 1'7, 190.3.

J. G. MEYERS.

CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.

APPLIGATION FILED DEC. 16. 1901.

' N0 MODEL. 2 sums-snnar 2.

zen of the United States, residing at Wash- UNITED STATES JOHN G. MEYERS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FFICE.

PATENT CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 723,175, dated March 17, 1903. Application filed December 16,1901. Serial No. 86,068- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, JOHN G. MEYERS, a citiington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coustruction of Buildings, of which the following is a specification. v

The present invention relates to the construction of houses, and has as its basic idea the utilization of artificially-made building stones or slabs, my purpose being to provide aconstruction which willresult in a structure of great strength and stability, which will withstand great wind-pressure without darnage, and which will be absolutely fire and vermin proof. Furthermore, the method of construction which I have invented is sosimple in characterthat it maybe put up at a less cost than the constructions now in use, the material used being comparatively inexpensive and the necessity of employing skilled labor being largely done awaywith, while at,

the same time thec'onstruction which I have invented admits of great latitude in architectural design andornamentation, both exterior and interior.

In'the drawings herewith I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of a house-wall from foundation to roof, thefloor connections with the side walls being shown,,as well as other details of the con-.

struction, towhich reference will be hereinafter made. Fig. 2 is a. detail view of a par-, tially-made wall to illustrate the method of building.

Fig, 3 is'a detail of the wall construction. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the floor to show the framework, the outer wall being shown in horizontal section. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. (i is a view, partially in section, of a partition-wall, showing the door construction. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of "one of the artificially-'1 molded stones or slabs which forms the unit Fig. 9'is a perspective view of construction.

"of one of. the corner-stones.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, 1 denotes the stone or slab, which, as stated, forms the unit of construction. Said feet.

stone 1 is made of a quick-setting cementitious composition, being cast in suitable molds. The stone shown in the drawings, Fig. 8, is one of the plain. type used in the main walls and partitions; but it will be apparent-that the stones may be cast in great variety of shapes and given any desiredornamentation for outer and inner cornices, moldings, and the like, as occasion may require, by merely making molds capable of turning out stones of the required design. 'lhe saidstones 1 may be made any size desired, and ordinarily I propose to cast them of a size convenient for one workman to handle, so that their setting up may be easily accomplished. Each 1, and preferably projecting from one edge thereof, are bonding-wires 4, two being shown in the drawings, said wires 4; being of great strength, toughness, and ductility to permit of their being twisted without breaking.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I will describe the manner of building the outer house-walls.

Upon a suitable foundation 5, of concrete or other material, the stones 1 are set in two parallel rows or tiers 6, which'will formthe outer and inner surfaces of the completed walls, said tiers 6 being spaced the requisite distance apart to give the thickness of wall desired. The stones 1 of the outer tiers 6 may, if desired, be given a roughened or pitted appearance by molding, so as to simulate cut or dressed stone, and they may be given any desired shade or coloring by mixing with the cementitious compound of which they are made a suitable color-pigment, While the stones 1, forming the inner surface of the wall, may be likewise provided with surface ornamentation and glazed, tinted, or colored to produce any desired interior decorative ef- The plane surfaces 3 on each side of the groove 2 at the edges of the stones 1 are preferably mortared with a quick-setting mortar as they are set up, care being taken not I00 to fill the grooves 2, so that as the stones are placed one upon the other the meeting grooves 2 will form series of interconnected vertical and horizontal ducts 7, as clearly shown in the sectional view Fig. 1.

As each row of stones 1 is set up I preferably pour a liquid cement into the vertical ducts '7, and the cement flowing down and through the horizontal portions of said ducts 7 will lut'e the stones of each tier strongly together and each succeeding tier to the one below it, such cement when hard forming a kind of locking-key between the stones. The two spaced parallel rows or tiers of stones are then laid up, and as the work progresses the opposing stones 1 of each tier are bonded together by means of the bonding-wires 4, which are inter-twisted across the intervening space, so that a strong stiff shell is formed.

The partition-walls differ slightly from the house-walls just described (see Figs. 6 and 7) in that they are laid up of a single tier of stones instead of two spaced parallel tiers, and that such single tiers may be properly braced and given the requisite rigidity I propose to place between each tier of stones in the partition-walls a stiffening-strip 8, formed as shown in Fig. 6, said strip 8 being a little less in width than the thickness of the stones groove 2, such relatively narrow stiffeningstrip being completely concealed by the mor.

tar in which the stones are set and serving to sti'lfen and brace the walls against lateral buckling, the bead locking the adjacent stones of each tier together as each tier is laid, the stones being so laid as to break joints between the adjacent tiers, and the stiffening plate or strip 8 gives rigidity to the several tiers, and a strong and practically rigid partition-wall is thus formed. While the stiffener-strip 8 is preferably laid only in the partition-walls, it may be used when desired in the outer Walls as well. After laying up and bonding together several tiers of stones in this mannerI temporarily secure the top tier against accidental displacement, as well as to accurately gage its width, by laying thereon at suitable intervals temporary gage-blocks 9, (see Fig. 2,) said gage-blocks being grooved on their under surfaces, so as to fit upon and hold in fixed relation to each other the outer and inner tiers of stones. I fill the intervening space between the two walls of the shell-like structure with a cementitious mixture of ce-' ment, gravel, rubble, &c. of such consistency thatit will pack evenly and well with or without tam ping, thus forming a solid wall. The cementilious filling after it has set becomes practically homogeneous with the outer and inner facing-stones 1, which may, if desired, be roughened on their inner faces to give better adhesion, and the wall when thus completed forms a perfectly solid structure with finished outer and inner surfaces, so that when once laid the wall is finished both inside and out and nothing further need be done to complete it.

At the corners of the house-wall I use the solid stones 1, (shown in Fig. 9,) said stones being preferably triangular in shape and being laid in reversed positions alternately, so as to lap upon each other and form a locked corner, which gives a very strong stiff corner and adds materially to the structural strength of the building. Said corner-stones may when necessary be provided with apertures or holes 1*, which when the stones are laid up coincide and form the down-spout from the roof-gutters.

The manner of constructing the wall just described is the method, broadly considered,

which is followed in making-the entire structure; but there are of course certain detailssuch as floor, door and window, and cornice constructionwhich enter into my invention and which I shall now describe.

When the walls have been reared to the floor-line, the floor-joists 10, preferably iron I-beams, are let into the walls through suitable apertures formed in the inner wall-facing, so that their ends rest firmly-upon the solid wall-filling. The said joists 10 are tied together by means of tie-rods 11, passing from beam to beam, the outer tie-rods 11 being provided with anchor-plates 12, bedded in the filling of the wall, as shown in Fig. 5. At right-angles to and parallel with the said beams 10 are stretched wires 12 said wires being looped around upright iron pins or dowels 13, preferably formed of short lengths of iron pipe set vertically in the walls, as shown in l and 5. These wires 12 are strungbaek and forth and across the floor structure in as close a mesh as may be deemed desirable, the wires which run at right angles to the beams 10 being preferably laid in zigzag fashion over and under the alternate beams. It will thus be seen that avery rigid floor frame construction is provided, the joists 10 being capable of supporting any weight, while the tie-rods 11 and wires 12 serve to bind the housewvalls together and brace them securely against excessive windpressure. Upon the floor-frame thus made I lay a cement filling, temporary shoring being placed beneath the floor to support the filling until it has hardened, after which it will be upheld by the beams 10, the tie-rods 11, and the meshed wires 12, which are bedded in it, the thickness of the floor being the width of the I-beams 10. A solid floor is thus formed and one which, together with the house-walls, is quite devoid of combustible materials, so that no danger from fire exists, while the utter absence of crevices or joints between the parts renders the structure proof against the ingress of vermin, Water, or dust.

It is sometimes desirable to finish a floor thus formed with a wooden finish, and that this may be readily done I propose, when desired, to bed suitable strips 14 in the cement filling, as shown in Fig. 1, upon which the flooring 15 may be laid and to which it may be secured.

In facing the inner Walls of the room with IIO the stones 1 I form the lower tier of stones with an inner surface molded so as to form the mopboard, as at 16, Fig. 1, and as this row of stones rests upon the cement fioora close-finished joint isformed and the mopboard efiect heightened, while in event of the t flooring being used such mopboard 16 will drop below the flooring 15 and a nice finish be icsecured. When the inner wall of stones caches the ceiling, I preferably mold the uper tiers so as to provide a picture-hanging ead; as at 17, a wall-molding, as at 18, and n, overhanging ceiling-cornice, as at 19, so hat when the walls are laid up they are comlpletely trimmed outand ready for tinting orfresco work, if such tinting or.coloring has not already been done by adding the desired coloring-matter to the stones as they are molded. In order to more firmlysupport the go,

ceiling-cornice 19, I preferably embed therein lfalrod or pipe-section 20, which projects horizontallyinto the wall (see Fig. 1) and is bedtdeditherein at its inner end and bearing against theunder side of a stop or projection 21,,forn1e'd on the opposing stone in the outer wall, as; shown. i t. t

The construction thus far described will be duplicated forthe succeeding floors, and the roof of the house will be laid in the same manner as are the floors, the roof-surface being slightly slanted to carry the water to a gutter 22, between "the roof-rail 23 and the roof. Said roof-rail 23 and the outer supporting-cornices 24 are supported in the same manner as is the ceiling{corn'ice, above descri:bedviz., by means of a projecting rod 25,:the inner end of which extends into and .istbedded in thecement fillingof the wall,

andin case of an extremely heavy cornice or bracket such rod 25 will extendw'ell into the l filling of the roof, as shown in Figxl,

It will be understood that during construction the water-pipes, gas-pipes, or electricwire conduits will be placed in position and bedded in the filling, softhat they will be firmly held. The. fireplaces, mantels, and flues will of :course be Worked out in a suit- ;able manner, the fines beingreadily formed tby simply setting a temporary boxing of the irequisitearea in the proper place and placing i the cementitious filling around it, so that after the walls have set the boxing may be removed and tho flue will be complete, such flue being topped out in a suitable manner. Thefireplaces and mantels may be built of specially-molded and profusely-ornamented stonesand the richest effects produced at slight cost and but little labor. The drainl pipes may also be formed in the same manner as the fines and unsightly spouts and eavestroughs dispensed with. v In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated the 1 method of putting in the door-frames, which I will now describe. The manner of building the partition-walls, one of which is shown at 32, Figs. 6 and 7, has been described. Suitable openings will be left for the doorways in such partition-walls, and in ordar that'the door-frame 33 may be properly supported I extend the stiffening-plates 8 at suitable intervals from the wall, their inner ends 35 being preferably turned at right angles to properly anchor the straps in place, while the outer ends 36 are turned up, as shown, to

which upturned ends 36 the frame-piece 37 of the door is secured. The trimming 38,

either of wood or molded stones, may then be laid up on each side of the partition, as shown I in Fig. 7, such trimming being secured either by nailing it to the side frame 37 or, if it is molded stone, by intertwisted cross-wires 39. (See Fig. 7.) The side frames thus secured are surmounted by the usual top piece, and a very rigid door-frame is given, to which the door may be hinged in the usual manner.

The identical method of mounting the doorframe just described may be adopted for setting the window-frames, and as the construction will be substantially the same, with the exception of such differences as the different characteristics of the two frames demand, the

principle being alike, I do not deem it necessary to describe or illustrate the details of the window-frame construction.

From the foregoing it .will be seen that a house construction is provided by adopting which fire, vermin, storm, and dust proof houses may be cheaply and expeditiously constructed, the material used being inexpensive and the necessity of skilled laborlargely done away with, for it is clear that under my method of construction all the details; of construction-such as the mopboards,door-sills, inner and outer cornice-work, moldings, picture-beads, and all the trimming out-proceeds as the walls rise, and the house is complete when once reared, thus doing away with the labor of plasterers, carpenters, painters, and finishers generally, who complete the house when built according to present ideas and methods of construction.

While I have shown and described ahouse in setting forth my invention, I do notwish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular adaptation of it, as the construction may be used in the building of tanks,

reservoirs, orjetties-in fact, wherever asolid outer walLsurfaces formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition, filamentous means for bonding together the opposing units of the wall-surfaces, and a cementitious outer wall-surfaces formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition; filamentous means for bonding together the opposing stones of the said inner and outer wall-surfaces; means for binding and locking together the abutting stones of each tier; and a cementitiousfilling between said wall-surfaces which embeds said bonding means and adheres to said wall-surfaces to form a solid, homogeneous, finished wall.

4. A Wall or partition comprising inner and outer wall-surfaces formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition; bonding devices embedded in said stones for securing the opposing stones of said inner and outer wall-surfaces together, metallic locking-strips between the successive tiers of stones to bind the abutting stones of each tier together; and a cementitious filling between said wall-surfaces which embeds said bonding devices and adheres to said wall-surfaces to form a solid, homogeneous, finished wall.

5. A wall or partition comprising inner and outer wall-surfaces formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition; wires cast in said stones and adapted to be intertwisted across the intervening space between said wall-surfaces to bond the opposing stones of said surfaces together, metallic loc kin g-strips between the successive tiers of stones to bind the abutting stones of each tier together, and a cementitious filling between said Wall-surfaces which embeds said bonding-wires and adheres to said wall-surfaces to form a solid homogeneous, finished wall.

6. A wall or partition comprising inner and outer wall-surfaces formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition, said stones having continuous grooves in their abutting edges to provide interconnected ducts throughout the wall-surfaces to receive a liquid cement which binds and locks said wallsurfaces, filamentous bonding means secured to said stones or slabs and having ends disposed between the wall-surfaces, and a cementitious filling between said built-up surfaces which adheres thereto and embeds the filamentous bonding means to form a solid, homogeneous, finished wall.

7. A wall or partition formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition, said stones having grooves in their abutting edges to form ducts to receive liquid cement, and a stiflener-strip provided with a bead which enters the grooves in said stones and holds the adjacent stones in longitudinal alinement with one another, the opposite ends of said strip being bent laterally and secured to a suitable support.

8. Awall or partition comprising inner and outer wall-surfaces formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition, said stones having grooves formed in their abutting.

edges to form interconnected ducts throughout said wall-surfaces to receive a liquid cement, metallic stifiener-strips lying between the successive tiers of stones, said strips having a bead which enters the grooves in said stones and holds them in longitudinal alinement, bonding-wires to bond the opposing stones in said inner and outer wall-surfaces together, and a cementitious filling between said wall-surfaces which embeds said bonding-wires, adheres to said wall-surfaces and forms a solid, homogeneous, finished wall.

9. In a house construction, the combination with walls formed of inner and outer wall-surfaces of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition and a filling of cementitious material, of floor-joists the ends of which are let into and supported by said walls, tie-rods connecting said joists, intermeshed wires strung parallel with and at right angles to said joists to form a skeleton floor-frame, and a cementitiousv filling supported by said skeleton frame.

10.-In a house construction the combination with walls formed of inner and outer wall-surfaces of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition and a filling of cementitious material, of floor-joists the ends of which are let into and supported by said walls, tie-rods connecting said joists, the outer tie-rods being anchored in said supporting-walls, anchor-rods embedded in said supporting-walls, intermeshed wires secured to said anchor-rods and strung parallel and at right angles to said joists, said angularlyplaced wires being strung above and beneath each alternate beam to form a skeleton floorframe, and a cementitious filling supported walls, tie-rods connecting said joists, the

outer tie-rods being anchored in said supporting-walls, anchor-rods embedded in said supporting-walls, intermeshed wires secured to said anchor-rods and strung parallel and at right angles to said joists, said angularlyplaced wires being strung above and beneath each alternate beam to form a skeleton fioorframe, a cementitious filling supported by said skeleton frame, said Wall-surfaces being molded to give an ornamental, trimmed-out effect to the finished wall-floor, supportingtimbers-resting uponsaid joists and bedded in said cementitious filling, and a floor-surface secured to said supporting-timbers.

12. In the fireproof construction of buildings, a wall comprising inner and outer wallsurfaces formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition and a filling of cementitious material, a partition abutting said inner wall-surface and comprising stones or slabsof artificial composition having grooves in their abutting edges to provide interconnecting dncts,and stiffener-strips each provided with a longitudinal bead which enters the grooves in the horizontal edges of said partition-stones and holds the adjacent stones in longitudinal-alinementwith one another, one end of each of said strips being extended between the inner stones of the Wall formed by the said inner and outer wallsnrfaces and having itssaid end embedded in the filling of cementitious material between said wallsurfaces.

13. A house wallor partition comprising inner and outer wall-surfaces formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition anda filling of cementitious material, the stones of said wall-surfaces having projecting ornamentations on their outer faces and anchoring and supporting-rods extending from their inner sides, said rods extending into the cementitious filling of thewall and bearing at their ends against stops formed on the inner sides of the stones or slabs forming the other wall-surface.

14. In the fireproof construction of buildings, a Wall comprising inner and outer wallsurfaces formed of finished stones or slabs of artificial composition and a filling of cementitious material, a partition-wall abutting said inner wall-surface and comprising stones or slabsof artificial composition having registering grooves in their abutting edges to provide interconnected ducts, and stiffenerstrips each provided with a longitudinal bead which enters the grooves in the horizontal 4 edges of saidipartition-stones and holds the adjacent stones in longitudinal alinement one with another, one end of each of said strips being extended between the joints of the inner stones of the wall formed by the said inner and outer wall-surfaces and having said end embedded in the filling of oementitious filling, a door-framing to which the other end of said strips are attached, and molded trimming-out stones or slabs on either side of said framing. i

15. A finished stone or slab for wall construction formed of cementitious material, said stone having a continuous centrallyplaoed groove in its edges and plane surfaces on either side thereof, and flexible bondingwires embedded therein and projecting from one edge thereof.

16. In a house construction, the combination with walls formed of inner and outer wall-surfaces of finished stones or slabs and an intermediate filling of cementitious material, of a corner formed of superposed solid stones or slabs, said stones being provided with coincident apertures.

17. In a house construction, the combination with walls formed of inner and outer wall-surfaces of finished stones or slabs and an intermediate fillingof cementitious: material; of a corner formed of solid, triangularshaped stones or slabs superposed upon one another in alternately-reversed positions said triangular stones being provided with coincident apertures.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN G. MEYERS.

Witnesses:

J. GRANVILLE MEYERS, J r., VIN'roiv OooMBs. r 

